Electric light fixture



April 11, 1961 l. ROSENBLATT 2,979,604

ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE Filed March 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [s faar Fasmb/azf ATTORNEYS A ril 11, 1961 1. ROSENBLATT 2,979,604

ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE Filed March 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. [sz'abr iassW/a/f SMM QL ATTORNEYS ELECTRIC LIGH-T FIXTURE Isidor Rosenblatt, New York, N.Y., assignor to Globe L ghting Products, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New'Yoi-k -Filed Mar. 28,-195S, Ser. No. 724,575

3:"Cla'ims. '(Cl..'240-78) The present invention relatesto light fixtures, -and more particularly to electric light fixtures of the type which are provided with translucent shades.

Heretofore, considerable difliculty hasbeen' experienced in providing light fixtures with translucent shades, other than -glass, capable of withstanding theheat generated by the-elec tric light bulbs. For example, in the case of lamp shadesmade of=plastics and :various fabrics, or combinations of plastics and fabrics, the heat generated by the electric bulbs frequently results in discoloration of the shades, especiallyintheiareas thereof which are subjected to the more intense heat of the bulbsthan other areas of the shades.

The ;primary object of the present invention, therefore, lSwtO provide a light fixture which isfreeof the above mentioned objections and disadvantages.

The .above and other objects, features and advantages of the .present invention will be fully understood from the followingdescription considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

in the .drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an electric light fixture embodying the present invention, parts being cut away for illustrative purposes. j

2Fig. .2is a sectional view -.on-a larger "scale on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, and 6 are sectional views on the lines 33, 4-4, 55 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the light fixture 10 embodying the present invention comprises a more or less conventional upper ring frame 12, a translucent shade 14 and a translucent light difiuser 16. Frame 12 is made of metal and comprises a ring 18 which is joined to a central hub 20 by a plurality of arms 22. Ring frame 12 is supported by the central metal tube 24 through which the electric wire 26 extends to the electric light socket 28, and for that purpose, the hub 20 of ring frame 12 is in threaded engagement with tube 24. The upper portion 30 of the shade 14 is secured to the ring 18 in the usual way, and the lower edge portion 32 of shade 14 is secured in the usual way to a metal ring 34.

A metal cap 36 is secured at the top of shade 14 by a dished clamping plate 38. More specifically, cap 36 is provided with an integral lower flange 40 which overlaps the upper marginal edge portion of the shade 14, and with an upwardly flaring portion 42,which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 44 completely therearound. Dished plate 38 has a bottom part 46 provided with a plurality of openings 48 and with an upwardly flaring rim 50 which seats on the lower portion of flaring part 42 of cap 36 and serves to press the flange 40 of said cap against the upper marginal edge portion of shade 14. A nut 52 is threaded on tube 24 and engages part 46 of plate 38 for clamping rim 50 of plate 38 against cap 36 and thereby clamping flange 40 of said cap against the shade. A flat ring 41 of asbestos or other heat insulating material is interposed between flange 40 and the marginal edge portion of shade 14.

i etates Patent ice latter is made of material 'such as plastic, fabric, or other materials incapable of withstanding the heat from the lamps without discoloration or other impairment. For this purpose, a transparent shield 56 is positioned interiorly of the light fixture between the bulbs 54 and the shade 14. Said shield is preferably formed of clear glass and 'is operable to provide a heat barrier between the bulbs and the shade without casting shadows on the shade. Said shield is supported by a frame 58 which in turn is supported by the tube 24 between the spacing collars 60 and 62. "Frame 58 comprises an 'apertured metal disc 64 having a plurality of arms 66 riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto in circumferentially spaced relation and provided with resilient end portions 68 which engage the inner peripheral edge'portion 70 of shield 56. Said edge portion 70 bounds a central opening for the passage of heatedcair upwardly of the light'fixtur'e for exhaust through'the open cap '36. Shield supporting plate 58 is secured in position by the nut 72 and 'by the nut 74. The lamp socket 28 is supported at the 'lowerend of'tube 24 by the bracket 76.

The light diiiuser'16 is made of translucent plastic sheet material and is releasably supported in position at the flower endof a tube 78 attached tolthe lower part of a bracket '80 which is fixed to the.larnp socket 28. More specifically, diffuser '16 is heldbetweenian inner ring 81 and an outer plate 82 by a member 84 having 'an'internally threaded shank '86 which is'in threaded engagement with the lowerend of the tube 78. Ring 81 is held in position by 'a collar 88 fixed to threaded tube 78. A

switch 9'0 is mounted 'inbracket80'and is electrically con- :nected. to the lamp socketfis and iseperable by an actuating member 92 which extends downwardlyzfrorn rsaid switch tthrou'gh :tube 78 .and sshank 186 :of member 84. It" will :be =i1nderstood :by'rreierence to :Fig. 1 that the periphoutwardly through the openings 48 and out of the upper open end of the cap 36. The openings 44 in cap 36 aid in the exhaust of the heated air from the light fixture.

Thus, it is seen that the lamp fixture 10 constructed as hereinbefore described is well adapted to accomplish the objects and purposes of the present invention, especially in respect to the prevention of impairment of the shade 14 by the heat generated by the electric lights. It will be understood, however, that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, various changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made and that the invention may be embodied otherwise as than herein specifically illustrated or described, and it will be understood, further,

that certain parts of the light fixture herein illustrated or' be received by the socket and the shade without casting shadows on the latter, said glass plate having a central opening through which said tube extends, said central opening being larger in diameter than the outside diameter of said tube, said shade having an opening above and substantially in registry with said glass plate opening, said openings collectively defining a passage for the flow of heated air upwardly through and out of the fixture, said passage being disposed centrally of the fixture and substantially spaced from the major portion of said shade.

2. In an electric light fixture, a central tube, a socket member adapted to receive a lamp carried by said tube, a translucent light shade supported by said tube above said socket, heat shielding means for protecting the shade against impairment by heat generated by the lamp supported by said tube above said lamp receiving socket and between the latter and said shade, said shielding means comprising a horizontally disposed transparent glass plate which defines a heat barrier between the lamp adapted to be received by the socket and the shade without casting shadows on the latter, said glass plate having a central opening through which said tube extends, said central opening being larger in diameter than the outside diameter of said tube, said shade having an opening above and substantially in registry with said glass plate opening, said openings collectively defining a passage for the flow of heated air upwardly through and out of the fixture, said passage being disposed centrally of the fixture and substantially spaced from the major portion of said shade and a light diffuser closing the bottom of said shade, said light diffuser being provided with openings through which air passes into the interior of the shade for flow upwardly through said passage.

3. In an electric light fixture, a central tube, a socket member adapted to receive a lamp carried by said tube, a

translucent light shade supported by said tube above said socket, heat shielding means for protecting the shade against impairment by heat generated by the lamp supported by said tube above said lamp receiving socket and between the latter and said shade, said shielding means comprising a horizontally disposed transparent glass plate which defines a heat barrier between the lamp adapted to be received by the socket and the shade without casting shadows on the latter, said glass plate having a central opening through which said tube extends, said central opening being larger in diameter than the outside diameter of said tube, said shade having an opening above and substantially in registry with said glass plate opening, said openings collectively defining a passage for the flow of heated air upwardly through and out of the fixture, said passage being disposed centrally of the fixture and substantially spaced from the major portion of said shade and a light diffuser closing the bottom of said shade, said light diffuser being provided with openings through which air passes into the interior of the shade for flow upwardly through said passage, said tube forming a conduit for the electric Wiring to said socket, a light switch mounted inwardly of the shade below said socket and having operating means accessible below said light difiuser, and means carried by said socket for supporting said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1914 

